Higher glucagon-to-insulin ratio is associated with elevated glycated hemoglobin levels in type 2 diabetes patients
- Author:
Minyoung LEE
1
;
Minkyung KIM
;
Jong Suk PARK
;
Sangbae LEE
;
Jihong YOU
;
Chul Woo AHN
;
Kyung Rae KIM
;
Shinae KANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine 2019;34(5):1068-1077
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS:The importance of α-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes has re-emerged recently. However, data on whether relative glucagon excess is present in clinical settings are scarce. We aimed to investigate associations between glucagon-to-insulin ratio and various metabolic parameters.
METHODS:A total of 451 patients with type 2 diabetes naïve to insulin treatment were recruited. Using glucagon-to-insulin ratio, we divided subjects into quartiles according to both fasting and postprandial glucagon-to-insulin ratios.
RESULTS:The mean age of the subjects was 58 years, with a mean body mass index of 25 kg/m² The patients in the highest quartile of glucagon-to-insulin ratio had higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. HbA1c levels were positively correlated with both fasting and postprandial glucagon-to-insulin ratios. Subjects in the highest quartile of postprandial glucagon-to-insulin ratio were more likely to exhibit uncontrolled hyperglycemia, even after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio, 2.730; 95% confidence interval, 1.236 to 6.028; p for trend < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:Hyperglucagonemia relative to insulin could contribute to uncontrolled hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients.
